All the Wisconsin running back did was rush for more than 5,000 yards and score a NCAA-record 83 touchdowns with a bruising, yet smooth sense of efficiency. He doesn't dazzle. And it's unlikely Ball will be a headliner in the Combine setting next week. Yet his former coach is quick to point out that not all of the greats had flair.

“That’s always a good thing if you can find a player that can consistently be good," said Wisconsin running backs coach Thomas Hammock. "He may not have the flash of some other guys but Curtis Martin is in the Hall of Fame. He wasn’t the most flashy guy so it’s something to be said for somebody that can be an every-down back.

"He can catch it, he can run it, he can protect the quarterback. He can do all the things that you need out of that position.”

And he could be a realistic option for the Packers. A year ago, Green Bay bypassed Doug Martin and David Wilson at the end of the first round. This year, Ted Thompson has some tough decisions to make at the position. This off-season, the Packers G.M. has promising youth (DuJuan Harris, Alex Green, James Starks, Brandon Saine) and a pair of veterans (Cedric Benson, Ryan Grant) to sort through. If Thompson decides to turn a new leaf, maybe Ball, Alabama's Eddie Lacy or another back is an option in the first couple rounds.

People in these parts are familiar with Ball.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound back overcame a miserable start to his senior season to finish strong. In July, Ball was jumped near his apartment and suffered a concussion. At which point, Hammock admits Ball did have some second thoughts about returning to the Badgers for this senior year. He easily could have turned pro after a banner junior season.

“I think it was extremely difficult," Hammock said. "Obviously, you start to question things as far as ‘Was this the right decision?’ and all of that. But at the end of the day, you have to live with no regrets and make the best of a bad situation.

“He had a brief moment of ‘What just happened to me?’ and all those things but I think he was thankful that the injury wasn’t worse, that he could continue to play and that he could be just as productive as he was before.”

The Badgers got off to rough start, too. They lost to Oregon State and the running game sputtered. Ball averaged less than four yards per carry in three of his first five games. He would, however, turn it all around. Ball finished strong, broke the touchdown record and lifted Wisconsin to a third straight Rose Bowl appearance.

Enduring such a turbulent senior year will serve Ball well in the pros, Hammock said.

“That speaks about his character and the type of person he is and the type of work ethic that he has," Hammock said. "He has a strong foundation with his family. I think all of those things are going to carry him forward. Any time he gets into a situation that he has to deal with adversity, he can always look back to this year and use that as a reference point to continue to move forward.”

One lasting memory for Hammock will be Ball's 39-carry, 191-yard game against Ohio State. Wisconsin lost. But Ball shouldered a heavy workload in the near upset. In an age of specialization, Ball is more of a throwback. He's used to carrying the ball 25-30 times a game. While it could potentially scare teams off, Ball carried the ball 924 times in college.

Several highly productive college running backs without dynamic physical abilities have flamed out in the pros. Now, Ball gets his chance.

Hammock says Ball's game does project well and that he could be a No. 1 back for a team.

“People want to look at him," he said, "and say, ‘You’re not very big, you’re not this,’ but you can’t measure a guy’s heart and ‘want to’ and he has a lot of that.”

Some more running backs to track...

Eddie Lacy (Alabama): Mashed Notre Dame in the BCS title game (20-140-1) and was the smashmouth complement to T.J. Yeldon all season on the best team. Rushed for more than 1,300 yards. Like Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson before him, Lacy wore down loaded SEC defenses.

Stepfan Taylor (Stanford): Very impressive in Mobile. Concern over mileage (843 carries at Stanford), but Taylor flashed a pro skill-set during Senior Bowl week. Has good hands and can take a pounding.

Giovani Bernard (North Carolina): Highly productive, Bernard rushed for more than 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons. Can also catch the ball out of the backfield (92 receptions).

Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina): Suffered one of the most horrific injuries this side of Shaun Livingston. Yet after back-to-back knee surgeries, Lattimore is optimistic he'll be ready for the NFL season opener. Once considered the top RB prospect.

Kenjon Barner (Oregon): Lacks ideal size but the Oregon running back could climb the charts with great numbers at the Combine. Teams seek speed. Barner has it.